James V. Franco: Voter fraud, removing three and ice cream

Voter fraud is over. All those indicted have been acquitted, sentenced or saw their charges dismissed.

So I don't get why we can't see how the special prosecutor, Trey Smith, spent his time while on the county dime.

If you remember, in 2008, 10 minutes after he submitted his first itemized bill to the county it was leaked to this paper and it not only included a break down of how he spent his time in 15 minute increments, it included a narrative of his entire legal strategy going forward.

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The time breakdown wasn't all that entertaining except for a few bits of inside information but the narrative was a different story and from what I'm told really wasn't even required.

Anyway, Smith after his legal strategy was leaked to the public, requested that the itemized record of his hours sealed, Judge George Pulver consented and the county was forced to pay the bills on blind faith -- more than $500,000 worth all said and done.

I guess in the end, it really doesn't matter because a judge dictates how much Smith makes and tells the county to foot the bill but that doesn't mean the county shouldn't know what it got for spending $500,000-plus.

It certainly wasn't hard nosed convictions for those implicated in the scam to defraud voters in the 2009 Working Families Party primary.

As we all know, eight people were indicted. Four plead guilty and, with the exception of former Councilman John Brown who is appealing his sentence, got a slap on the wrist. Two, Board of Elections Ed McDonough and former Councilman Michael LoPorto, were acquitted twice -- once together and then individually. And Smith dropped felony charges against two others.

The entire ordeal took three years and seven months and now Pulver inexplicably, sided with Smith ordered the itemized records remain sealed and ordered the county to pay the rest of the bill.

I could kind of understand sealing them while things were still pending and there was still some legalities left to sort out but it's all over now and the county and the public, since they are footing the bill, should have every right to see how Smith spent his time.

From nine to six

The City of Rensselaer is doing the right thing and cutting the number of Council members from nine to six.

The Democrats may not have followed the exact proper procedures in doing it but all layers of government should follow suit.

For years there has been talk of eliminating two At Large seats on the Troy Council and it really shouldn't take 19 Rensselaer County legislators to pat the Class C tennis champs on the back once a month. If you don't know, since so much of the county's activities are mandated by the state the Legislature really doesn't have a lot to do to earn their $20,000 salaries with the caucus heads making an extra $5,000.

The same can be said for Albany County where there are 39 legislators.

Cox and ice cream

After trying for years to open up another towing shop at the old Ward's on Fifth Avenue, the Cox family now wants to convert it to an ice cream/take out food joint.

On behalf of the family, Jack Cox Jr. applied to the Planning Board for a certificate of occupancy but was repeatedly denied because the area is not zoned for such a use. After that route was exhausted, the Zoning Board of Appeals would not issue a variance.

But, the current zoning does allow for an ice cream/take out food shop.

Without the city's permission to open, they are not supposed to be storing cars on the property but a photo snapped yesterday showed what appeared to be a flatbed tow truck with another tow truck on it, six vehicles, some with license plates and some without, and a boat in the yard.

Maybe they will take the place of picnic tables.

I've told this story before but it still makes me chuckle. In 2008 they were storing cars there too and then Department of Public Works Commissioner Bob Mirch put concrete Jersey barriers in front of the doors to keep them out. Having ready access to tow trucks the Coxes just dragged them away. Mirch would put them back and they'd get dragged away again. Frustrated Mirch dumped a truck load of dirt in front of the doors with the classic quote of: "Let them try to tow dirt."

The Coxes sued and the city agreed to pay $20,000 for the stunt, a sum I'm told was never collected.

It's going to be interesting to see if the place does open and interesting to see how it fares against the Snow Man which is located right across the street.